China Academy of Space Technology

Not to be confused with China Association for Science and Technology.

The China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) (Chinese: 中国空间技术研究院; pinyin: Zhōngguó Kōngjiān Jìshù Yánjiūyuàn) is a Chinese space agency and subordinate of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The agency was founded on 20 February 1968, and is the main spacecraft development and production facility in China. On 24 April 1970, CAST successfully launched China's first artificial satellite Dong Fang Hong I.

China Academy of Space Technology

中国空间技术研究院
Agency overview
Abbreviation	CAST
Formed	February 20, 1968; 57 years ago (1968-02-20)
Type	Space agency
Headquarters	Haidian District, Beijing, China[1]
Official language	Mandarin Chinese
Owner	China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Employees	10,000+
Website	cast.cn

Space flight programmes

CAST designs and manufactures the Dong Fang Hong satellites.^[2]

U.S. sanctions

Further information: United States sanctions against China

CAST is the majority shareholder of listed company China Spacesat. On 30 June 2020, CAST owns 51.46% of China Spacesat Co.^[3] In August 2020, the United States Department of Defense published the names of companies linked to the People's Liberation Army operating directly or indirectly in the United States. China Spacesat Co. was included on the list.^[4] In November 2020, Donald Trump issued an executive order prohibiting any American company or individual from owning shares in companies that the United States Department of Defense has listed as having links to the People's Liberation Army, which included China Spacesat.^[5][6]

In August 2022, CAST's 502 and 513 Research Institutes were added to the United States Department of Commerce's Entity List.^[7][8]